Strange Sects And Curious Cults Marcus Bach 9781258363307 Books
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Strange Sects And Curious Cults Marcus Bach 9781258363307 Books
Marcus Bach's book was written in 1961, and therefore the information on some cults still active is out of date; not to mention that so many others Bach did not address have since flourished. Nonetheless, for a quick overview of religious cults ancient and more modern, this volume is both informative and absorbing, if certainly not encyclopedic or definitive or even always completely accurate.Bach breaks down his book into three broad categories - the sex sects, conscience cults, and utopianists. The first group includes ancient Baalism of Mesopotamia, Osirism of Egypt, Shivism of India, and modern (well, more modern) Voodoo of Africa and imported partially into the New World. The Conscience Cults include the Penitentes, Apocalypticists, Father Divine of Harlem, the Oxford Groupers, Psychiana (of Moscow, Idaho!); and under the grouping of Utopians you have the old Russian Doukhobors, now I believe extinct, the Shakers, Amanas, and Hutterites, all still tottering along, and finally the Mormons, who are doing quite a bit better.
Each of the sections also contains a general introduction from Bach, and the book has a conclusion, "Faith is a Feeling". Throughout the volume Bach is respectful and concise. The writing sometimes can be a little annoying; Bach seems more interested in catching the feelings, emotions, and motivations behind the followers than of the leaders, and one one wishes he had taken a more journalistic approach to his material. Dates and exact initiatory techniques are often omitted, frustratingly, and where he does not have information he is vague. The best chapters are on the more modern cults (contrast Father Divine with, say The Rev Al Sharpton!), though again here the book is over 40 years old and there is much to update. Psychiana is making a comeback over the Internet, for example.
There are no illustrations, which is a terrible shame.
If you are seriously interested in any of these cults or religious sects, there are more in-depth treatments elsewhere. If you would like a review of the origins and general development of some lesser-known movements, and the invariably unusual personalities that drove them, this book is not the worst place to start.
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Strange Sects And Curious Cults Marcus Bach 9781258363307 Books Reviews
I first read this one shortly after it's publication in 1961. I recently "rediscovered" it and give it another reading. It is still a good read and quite interesting after all these years. The text is is the "popular" mode of the time and quite readable and, to be frank, quite interesting. The book is broken down into various sections and subjects.
THE SEX SECTS Baalism, Osirism, Shivism, Voodooism and Sex and Modern Religion. THE CONSCIENCE CULTS The Penitentes, The Apocalypticists, Fater Divine, The Oxford Groupers and Psychiana. THE SEARCH FOR UTOPIA The Doukhobors, The Shakers, The Amanas, The Hutterites and the Mormans. The author gives us a great introduction to each category and then a good discussion on each. Granted, there is much more information out there on each of these cults and sects, but this is certainly a good starting place in their discovery and is certainly an entertaining read. I can give you sort of a kick-start for further research. Recommend this one highly, if you can still find it.
Marcus Bach's book was written in 1961, and therefore the information on some cults still active is out of date; not to mention that so many others Bach did not address have since flourished. Nonetheless, for a quick overview of religious cults ancient and more modern, this volume is both informative and absorbing, if certainly not encyclopedic or definitive or even always completely accurate.
Bach breaks down his book into three broad categories - the sex sects, conscience cults, and utopianists. The first group includes ancient Baalism of Mesopotamia, Osirism of Egypt, Shivism of India, and modern (well, more modern) Voodoo of Africa and imported partially into the New World. The Conscience Cults include the Penitentes, Apocalypticists, Father Divine of Harlem, the Oxford Groupers, Psychiana (of Moscow, Idaho!); and under the grouping of Utopians you have the old Russian Doukhobors, now I believe extinct, the Shakers, Amanas, and Hutterites, all still tottering along, and finally the Mormons, who are doing quite a bit better.
Each of the sections also contains a general introduction from Bach, and the book has a conclusion, "Faith is a Feeling". Throughout the volume Bach is respectful and concise. The writing sometimes can be a little annoying; Bach seems more interested in catching the feelings, emotions, and motivations behind the followers than of the leaders, and one one wishes he had taken a more journalistic approach to his material. Dates and exact initiatory techniques are often omitted, frustratingly, and where he does not have information he is vague. The best chapters are on the more modern cults (contrast Father Divine with, say The Rev Al Sharpton!), though again here the book is over 40 years old and there is much to update. Psychiana is making a comeback over the Internet, for example.
There are no illustrations, which is a terrible shame.
If you are seriously interested in any of these cults or religious sects, there are more in-depth treatments elsewhere. If you would like a review of the origins and general development of some lesser-known movements, and the invariably unusual personalities that drove them, this book is not the worst place to start.
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